Sri Lanka
Asia · Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte · LK
Sri Lanka is a tear-shaped island in the Indian Ocean where ancient rock fortresses rise from jungle canopies, colonial-era churches sit beside Buddhist stupas, and tea plantations cascade down misty hill country with an almost hypnotic regularity. The coastal towns still carry the marks of Portuguese and Dutch occupation, while inland, Kandy's Temple of the Tooth draws devotees with drums and jasmine garlands at dusk. Elephants wade through river shallows in Minneriya, and surfers ride warm reef breaks at Weligama while fishermen perch on stilt poles above the waves. The food is a revelation: hoppers filled with egg and curry, pol sambol grated fresh beside every meal, and kottu roti chopped rhythmically on flat griddles at roadside stalls. Sri Lanka's pace is gentle but its sights are extraordinary, offering a density of culture and natural beauty that rivals destinations many times its size.
Overview
Sri Lanka is a country in Asia. Its capital is Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte and the international dialling code is +94. Languages commonly used in everyday life here include Sinhala and Tamil. Local currency is the Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR). Our guide covers 1 airport, including Bandaranaike International Airport. We also list 2 cities in Sri Lanka: Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte and Colombo.
Sigiriya's Lion Rock Fortress
Sigiriya rises two hundred meters above the surrounding jungle, a massive column of granite that King Kashyapa chose as the site for his fifth-century fortress-palace. Climbing the rock face involves metal staircases bolted to sheer cliffs and a final passage through the open jaws of a colossal lion carved into the stone, of which only the enormous paws remain today. Halfway up, a sheltered gallery preserves ancient frescoes of cloud maidens painted in warm earth tones, their figures still vivid after fifteen centuries. The summit reveals the remnants of royal gardens, cisterns, and foundation walls that outline a palace complex designed to impress and intimidate. From the top, the surrounding landscape unfolds in every direction: a patchwork of rice paddies, reservoirs, and jungle stretching to the horizon. The early morning climb avoids the midday heat and the worst of the crowds.
Galle Fort's Dutch Colonial Walls
Galle Fort is one of the best-preserved European colonial fortifications in South Asia, its massive ramparts built by the Dutch in the seventeenth century and still encircling a living neighborhood of mosques, churches, and boutique hotels. Walking the walls at sunset, you pass families flying kites, cricket players chasing leather balls across the parade ground, and vendors selling king coconut from bicycles. Inside, the cobblestone streets lead past the Dutch Reformed Church with its beruffled tombs, the lighthouse at the harbor entrance, and colonial-era merchant houses converted into art galleries and cafe-bars. The fort's layout retains its original Dutch grid, and every corner reveals another detail: a carved datestone above a doorway, a cannon pointing seaward, a bougainvillea spilling over a crumbling wall. It is the rare heritage site where daily life has not been displaced by tourism.
Kandy's Temple of the Tooth
The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, known locally as Sri Dalada Maligawa, sits on the edge of Kandy Lake within the grounds of the old royal palace complex. The relic itself is not visible to the public, housed within a gold casket that is opened only during special ceremonies, but the rituals surrounding it draw visitors to the evening puja when the sound of drums fills the courtyard and devotees offer lotus flowers and white cloth. The surrounding complex includes a museum with royal artifacts, a series of monasteries, and a moat that once protected the temple from invaders. Kandy itself feels like a mountain town, with terraced hillsides rising behind the lake and vendors selling raw mango dusted with chili powder on the lakeside promenade. The Esala Perahera festival in July, with its decorated elephants and fire dancers, is one of the most spectacular religious processions in Asia.
Yala National Park's Leopard Safari
Yala National Park, on Sri Lanka's southeastern coast, has one of the highest densities of leopards in the world, making it the most reliable place in Asia to see these elusive cats in the wild. Entering the park at dawn in a open-top jeep, you drive through patches of thorny scrubland, past rock pools where elephants drink, and along lagoons where crocodiles bask with their jaws open. The leopard sightings are never guaranteed, but when one appears draped across a tree branch or padding silently through the undergrowth, the experience is electrifying. Beyond the big cats, Yala supports an astonishing variety of wildlife: sloth bears, wild boar, peacocks displaying their tail feathers, and sea turtles nesting on the park's uninhabited beaches. The drivers and guides know each rock and water hole by memory, and their quiet commentary transforms a wildlife drive into something that feels both adventurous and deeply personal.
Ella's Hill Country Tea Trails
Ella is a small village nestled in Sri Lanka's hill country, where the railway line threads through tunnels and over viaducts surrounded by tea plantations stretching to the horizon in every shade of green. The Nine Arches Bridge, built by the British in the early twentieth century, curves across a valley and draws visitors who wait for the blue train to cross its span. Hiking to Little Adam's Peak at sunrise brings you above the cloud line, with views of Ella Gap plunging into the lowlands far below. The tea estates employ Tamil workers who have picked leaves here for generations, and some offer tours that trace the journey from bush to cup. Ella's main street has a relaxed, backpacker-friendly energy, with bamboo hostels and open-air cafes. The evening mist that settles into the valley feels designed purely for contemplation.
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- Capital
- Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte
- Currency
- Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR)
- Languages
- Sinhala, Tamil
- Calling code
- +94
- Internet TLD
- lk
Entry requirements
Check who can enter →See which passports travel visa-free or need a visa to enter Sri Lanka.
Which nationalities can enter Sri Lanka?
Current visa status for tourism for the origins we cover, with links to the detailed requirements.
Airports (1)
All airports →Cities (2)
All cities →Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa to visit Sri Lanka?
For the origins we track, Sri Lanka requires a visa for tourism (Australia: e-visa, Canada: e-visa, India: e-visa, Japan: e-visa and Morocco: e-visa). Entry rules depend on your passport, so confirm the current requirements for your own nationality with our entry requirements tool.
What is the capital of Sri Lanka?
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte is the capital of Sri Lanka, and the country sits in Asia.
What currency is used in Sri Lanka?
You pay with Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR) in Sri Lanka. Exchange rates move day to day, so check the current rate before you change money or use your card abroad.
Which languages do people speak in Sri Lanka?
The languages we list for Sri Lanka are Sinhala and Tamil. A couple of greetings in the local language go a long way when you travel, even in cities where another language is widely used.
What is the international dialling code for Sri Lanka?
The dialling code for Sri Lanka is +94 — keep the plus sign when you save the number.
Which airports serve Sri Lanka?
Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) in Colombo is the airport we cover for Sri Lanka.
Which cities in Sri Lanka do you cover?
Our guide lists 2 cities for Sri Lanka: Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte (capital) and Colombo.